Anthophyllite Tumbles

Description

Our hotly debated anthophyllite tumbles are great for décor and gifting. At first glance, these stones appears to be black. With the right lighting, one can see they shine with a lovely blue and gold schiller that looks similar to fireworks. Spots of deep red fade into the black sea of stone. The red found in these stones is a form of garnet. Some of the pieces we received do not show the lovely blue and golds, but are primarily composed of the beloved stone garnet. We have offered them separately in this listing at a discounted rate. Get your tumbles before they are gone!

Size: M, approx. 0.625-1.00″

One of our favorite suggestions for using anthophyllite tumbles in gemstone décor is to add them to a crystal or glass plate, bowl, vase, or other container. You can layer them or use them to surround figurines or other display pieces, too. With all of the colors and variation available in gemstone tumbles and chips, there is almost always a complementary or accent color that will suit your personal style, Southwestern or otherwise.

Fireworks Stone? Astrophyllite, Anthophyllite, Arfvedsonite—Oh My!

Do we have any geology sleuths out there? This stone, often sold as fireworks stone, does not have a consensus in what the chemical composition actually is. This rabbit hole goes deep with information about stones and minerals such as astrophyllite, arfvedsonite, anthophyllite, aegirine, gedrite, and aenigmatite. While our tower does not have strong red coloration, with the right lighting one can see a few deep red spots. A stone similar to our tower has been identified as anthophyllite, almandine (a type of garnet), and cordierite. We cannot confirm the components without further testing, but given the wealth of information on mindat.org, we are confident that this pieces is anthophyllite.

Why do so many call this material astrophyllite? In our research, it is clear that both antho- and astrophyllite can have blue schiller. However, astrophyllite has a more brassy tone to its golden reflection than anthophyllite. Combined with the other stone that is strikingly similar to ours mentioned in the previous paragraph, this information has drawn us to conclude that this tower is anthophyllite.

If you would like to learn more about any of these minerals, you can start here and search the rest named above.

If you like anthophyllite, you will love our huge tower found here.

Please Note:

1. Sizes and weights are approximate. Dimension sizes can vary based on the way the rock is formed. We hand measure our pieces on the longest side. Please see the pictures in the listing.
2. The colors may vary due to monitor and lighting differences.
3. Please use your own judgment when allowing children to handle.
4. Not suggested for use in animal habitats or fish tanks.